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Upon doing some research on exposures near Great Falls, and from a tip I received from a fellow member of my local prospector's group, I found an exposure just outside of Belt that is somewhat known for its plant fossils. Roadside Geology of Montana has this area of the state marked as early Cretaceous, but the large Jurassic coal seam cutting through the middle of this exposure was apparent as soon as I parked. I scrambled up the loose shale and sandstone to the seam, where I almost immediately began to spot small impressions in the dark-gray shale. The shale was incredibly fragile and would often crumble at a slight touch, and it was a new experience for me in handling rock that didn't need a hammer and chisel to split. I spent most of the trip sifting through the loose shale that had slid from the exposure and gently prying open larger pieces with my fingers or a small, thin chisel. This was definitely an exercise in patience, as I had to really slow down and be gentle with the shale as to not shatter the pieces in my hands. After about 2 hours, my husband and the dog were incredibly bored, as their adventure down to Belt Creek was unexciting, and the heat was getting to them. So, as is often the case with my hunts, I had to leave earlier than I wanted. But I am incredibly happy with my finds, small as they may be, and I plan on returning to this little spot soon. I'm not too familiar with plants in this area, as most of this part of the state is Cretaceous or Mississippian marine, so if anyone would like to offer some IDs, I would love them! I'm trying to be diligent in cataloguing all my finds, so anything helps! Some of them really shine when wet, as I found when I was cleaning them up. The dark-gray of the shale is also much more apparent. I know they're small and not particularly impressive or rare, but I am incredibly happy with my little haul. Thanks for stopping by on my adventure; I hope you have a great day!